Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB3004

Amends the School Code with respect to the suspension and expulsion of pupils. Provides for the expulsion of pupils by removing a pupil from a school or educational setting for a period of more than 10 school days for posing a significant threat of imminent serious harm to other pupils or to staff (instead of providing for the expulsion of pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct). Provides for the suspension of pupils by removing a pupil from a school or educational setting for a period of not more than 10 days for a serious act of misconduct (instead of providing for the suspension of pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct); makes related changes. Sets forth limitations on out-of-school suspensions. Requires behavioral support services and alternative educational services to be provided to certain students. Provides that, unless otherwise required by statute for a specific criminal offense, a student may not be arrested or otherwise cited for a criminal offense committed during school hours while on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at a school activity or school-sanctioned event unless the offense constitutes a felony or the student has committed an identical offense within the preceding 6 months. Requires reports to be made for certain incidents. Provides that students may not be counseled by any school employee to leave school voluntarily in order to avoid formal disciplinary proceedings or because of any other disciplinary concerns. Provides that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence. Provides for charter school and alternative school application.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning student discipline policies and the parent-teacher advisory committee, the creation of memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies that clearly define law enforcement's role in schools, the actions for which a student may be expelled, what an expulsion order must include, the actions for which a student may be suspended, the duration of a suspension from riding the school bus, what a suspension order must include, the use of school exclusions by school officials, a prohibition on zero-tolerance policies, when out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used, when out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days may be used, when expulsions and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used, the provision of appropriate behavioral support services, the continuation of educational services for suspended or expelled students, professional development on the adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school climates, a prohibition on a student being arrested or otherwise cited for a criminal offense committed during school hours while on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school activities or school-sanctioned events unless certain offenses are involved, school employees and officials retaining their authority and discretion under existing law to address situations through the existing school discipline structure, a written report for all incidents resulting in an out-of-school suspension longer than 3 days, expulsion, removal to an alternative setting, school-based arrest, or school-based criminal citation, a prohibition on school officials advising or encouraging students to disenroll from school voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties, and a prohibition on issuing a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence. Effective immediately.

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